A Community of Opportunity A review of the arts by Mrs Sanderson Community spirit and the love of a challenge have been strong at Neatherd High School this year. Staff and students have ventured out into the local and national community to contribute to the arts and industry and to galvanize support from local businesses for our endeavours to maintain high standards of creativity in difficult economic times. This year’s community-focused projects have included work with partner primary schools. Neatherd’s creative arts staff have offered workshops and lessons in art, dance, drama, and music. Our work has helped pupils from Years 1 to 6 to access such diverse artistic experiences such as samba rhythms, contemporary dance, the plays of William Shakespeare, life as a Victorian servant and 3d clay workshops. November saw our students perform in the national Shakepeare Festival at The Norwich Playhouse. The production by Year 9 and 10 students was an imaginative interpretation of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” The cast amazed audiences with their energetic and, at times, hilarious performance. Our annual drama production was staged back in February in the Memorial Hall at the heart of Dereham’s artistic community. “Finch’s” Tale was an original show devised from the imaginations of pupils and staff and ex-Neatherd student, Alice Watts. Alice is currently a student at Dereham Sixth Form and helped with the directing of the show, gaining valuable voluntary work experience to add impetus to her ambition to train as a drama teacher. With the recognized need to enhance the profile of engineering as a lucrative and rewarding creative career path, Neatherd was delighted to be the only state-funded school to host a regional heat of the first Lego League challenge in February. The DT department’s team won the heat and went on to the national final which took place in Bristol. Although they didn’t win, Neatherd’s students proved that they were up to the creative challenge of applying science and technology skills to the creation of robot games. All of the creative and artistic experiences that enrich the education of students are supported by parents who give up their time and adapt their weekend and evening plans to ensure that students are able to attend essential rehearsals and performances. Naturally we rely on parents as supportive exhibition-goers and audience members. Moreover, without parents’ support and their willingness to contribute by buying tickets and refreshments, much needed arts facilities and equipment budgets could not be supplemented as school budgets continue to be eroded by economic cuts. The will and determination to succeed creatively in the face of adversity is undoubtedly strong at Neatherd but economic times are indeed tough! This year then, when we have reached out to community partners, the support offered was incredible. When asked if they could help our GCSE textiles students access good quality fabric remnants, Just Blinds and Curtains on the Rashes Green Industrial Estate said, “Yes! Of course!” When asked if they could provide an exhibition stand at our June fashion show, to demonstrate the links between yarns and fabrics on offer in the shops and the textiles work of our students, Knit Wits on Dereham High Street said, “Yes, of course!” The ladies of the Shipdham Quilters didn’t bat an eyelid when they were asked, on the back of their highly successful exhibition in Shipdham church, to showcase their work in school. Clothing retailers: Chattels of Dereham, M&Co and Emma’s Boutique, in the town centre, all contributed garments, accessories and their time to take part in the highly successful fashion show. Staff from departments as diverse as music, English and Science joined their students on the catwalk to raise money for The Friends of Neatherd High School to inject much needed additional funding to departments across the school. JDT Music has been a long-standing supporter of Neatherd’s Music Department and this year they hosted a group of Year 7 students to help them understand and experience the developing field of music technology, another growing area of potential employment for young people. In short, Neatherd has always prided itself on being a school that sits at the heart of its local community; one that offers its students the opportunity to experience and to succeed in all aspects of life. We recognize that it is short-sighted to inhibit creative opportunities for young people, not least of all because the arts offer increasing opportunities for employment as well as enjoyment on an international scale. In straightened economic times then we carry on, becoming ever more ingenious in our bid to thwart the cuts to creativity! And most of all, we thank the Dereham community for their continued support in our efforts.
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